Hollow building block



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. J. LEE.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK QR BRICK.

No. 390,175. Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

W/ m@ V (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- J. LEE.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK OR BRICK.

No. 390,175. Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

W1 TNESSES .IJVVETOR a 6 w w E blocks or bricks after my block or brick ll'NiTno STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN LEE, OF STERLING, OHIO.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK .OR BRICK.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 390,175, dated Septembe 5. 1838 Application filed Octobei' -ES, 1887.

Serial No. 253.285. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: L E, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sterling, in thecounty of W'ayneand State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hollow Building Blocks or Bricks, of which the following isaspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in building blocks or bricks, the samevhaving refereuce more .particularly to that classof bricks providing means for the free circulation of air throughout the wall constructed thereof.

The object of the invention is the provision of simple and,eflicienameansfor,allowing the circulation of air through a wall constructed of invention; meansfor preventing the warping of the sides of the blocks or bricks while being burned or when drying; meansforthe application of mortarbetween the ends of the adjoining bricks, and, lastly, means for securing in position bricks or blocksdisposedhorizontally one upon another.

To these ends the invention comprises the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3arerespectivelylongitudinal and crosssectional views thereof, the latter being taken on the line a m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, in section, ofa modified form of my invention; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cor-- ner blocks or bricks.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the block or brick, which can be'of any desired size, the dimensions of the preferred size being eight inches high, eight inches wide, and sixteen inches long, said block or brick having its outer corner edges and upper and lower horizontal edges beveled, as shown in Fig. 1. This A is composed of upper and lower horizontal arches, a a, as shown in Fig. 3, the same being separatedflby two horizontal partitions, a a, which are in the form of a continuous inwardly-projecting flange,and in each of these partitions or flanges is formed a preferabl y oval-shaped opening or aperture, a

It will be seen that the sides and the ends of as shown in Fig. 3.

end of my block or brick are surfaces, as shown.

B is a central vertically-disposed partition connecting the longitudinal sides of the block or brick A, dividing the upper arch thereof into two apartments. At the opposite sides of the twoapartments in the upper arch a formed by the partition B are four upwardly-prqiecting tongues or flanges, b, the inner surfaces of which areon a line with the inner surfaces of the longitudinal sides of the block or brick A,

4 In each vertical formed two or more parallel semicircular grooves, b I), designed to coincide with the corresponding grooves of the adjoining block or brick, so as to receive mortar, whereby the ad oining ends of tne blocks or bricks can be secured together.

By means of the double arches the strength of the block or brick is greatly augmented,aud the same is rendered stronger than blocks or bricks of this class heretofore constructed,and the central vertical partition additionally secures and strengthens the longitudinal sides of my block or brick and prevents thesame from warping while being burned and dried.

From what has been said it will be seen that by means of the tongues'ortlanges I) of my block or brick a correspondingly-formcd block or brickplaced upon the upper horizontal edge thereof will be securely held in position, as against displacement, by reason of said tongues or flanges entering the lower arch of the upper block or brick and abutting against the inner surface of the longitudinal sides thereof, and that th'ereby a wall constructed of my improved block or brick will be prevented from falling apart or spreading, each block or t k being held firmly in contact with the onoupon which it is placed. The strength of such a wall is further augmented by reason of the grooves in the ends of the block or brick,

wherein the mortar can be inserted, so as to permit the ends of the adjoining blocks or bricks to fit snugly against each other, and at the same time be firmly held by the mortar in said grooves.

\Vhen my block or brick is made of any size other than having the length double the width--as, for instance, twelve by sixtecnit is then necessary that corner-Juickshoused,

the arches are slightly curved on their inner so as to match or fill up break-joints in the Ihave thereforeprovide the form shown in Fig. 5, which consists in forming the end sections of the corner-bricks A A of approximately L shape, so that the projecting portion of one end section shall fit snugly into the correspondingly-shaped groove or recess in the end section of the other block or brick disposed at right angles thereto, as shown. These corner blocks or bricks are made often thesame form as those previously described-that is, they are each provided with the upper and lower arches, central partition, tongues or flanges, and mortar-recesses-so that the principle of my invention is maintained throughout the entire structure of the wall or building.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of my invention, which consists in extending the central vertical partition, B, entirely through the center of the block or brick, thus also dividing the lower arch into two apartments and additionally strengthening the sides thereof, and further provide against warping,as stated.

I claim as my inventioncenter and corners.

tongues or flanges,

1. The herein-described improved block or brick,consisting of the upper andlower arches, the horizontal partitions or flanges having openings, the central vertical partition connected to the sides of said upper arch, the the inner surfaces of which are on a line with the inner surfaces of the iongitudinal sides of said block or brick, and the parallel'semicircular grooves in the end walls of said block or brick, substantially as shown and described. t

2. The hereindescribed brick, comprising the upper and lower arches,the horizontal partitions or flanges, the central vertical partition, and the parallel semicircular grooves in the end walls of said block or brick, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN LEE.

Witnesses:

WARDEN WHEELER, SADIE SEABRooK. 

